Written by Jennifer Walsh. Reviewed for technical accuracy by Shubham Dixit, Independent Expert in Email Forensics and Data File Conversion. Updated 18 September 2026.
Shubham is an independent external reviewer and not an employee of PCDOTS.
Quick answer. The quickest way is Google’s own transfer service. Sign in to the old account, go to Takeout Transfer, enter the new Google account, confirm the code, then copy your Gmail and Drive across, no download needed. If you already have a Takeout MBOX, add the new Gmail in Thunderbird and upload the mail. Contacts and calendar import from the vCard and ICS.
On this page
- How do you move Google data to a new account?
- How do you use Google’s Takeout transfer service?
- What does the transfer service leave out?
- How do you import a downloaded Takeout MBOX into the new Gmail?
- How do you bring contacts, calendar and photos across?
- How do you import a Takeout to a new account in bulk?
- Which method should you use?
- Frequently asked questions
How do you move Google data to a new account?
There are two ways to get your data into a new Google account, and the first is easier than most people expect. People do this when they consolidate accounts, leave a school or job or switch to a fresh Gmail.
Google has its own transfer service. It copies your Gmail and Drive straight from the old account to the new one, with no Takeout download at all. If you’ve already downloaded a Takeout, the second way uploads that mail into the new Gmail instead.
So start with the transfer service below. Use the Takeout import only when you already have the export, or the transfer is turned off for a work account.
Google’s transfer copies across directly, or you import a Takeout you downloaded.
“Most people reach for software here, and for a straight account move they don’t need it. Google will copy your Gmail and Drive to another account itself, from takeout.google.com/transfer, and you never download a thing. The catch is that it moves mail and Drive, not your contacts or tasks, so those you bring over separately. I only fall back to a Takeout file and an upload when the transfer is blocked on a work account, or someone already has the MBOX on disk and wants it in the new Gmail.” Shubham Dixit, Email Migration reviewer (draft, pending approval)
How do you use Google’s Takeout transfer service?
You use Google’s transfer service to copy your Gmail and Drive to another Google account without a download. Google sends the data account to account, and the files are copied, so nothing leaves the old account.
Here are the six steps.
- Sign in to the old account, then go to takeout.google.com/transfer.
- Enter the new Google account email, then select Send code.
- Open the new account’s inbox, find Google’s email, and select Get confirmation code.
- Back on the transfer page, enter the code, then choose Verify.
- Choose the content, Gmail and Drive, then select Start transfer.
- Wait for the email that says it’s done. It runs in a few hours, up to a week.
For a full account move I always start with Google’s transfer, since it copies Gmail and Drive with no download at all. The copied mail lands under a label with the old account name, and Drive lands in a matching folder. This is what Google documents as copying content to another account.
A few things to know before you start. A personal @gmail.com account always allows the transfer, while a work or school Google Workspace account needs the admin to permit it. Add any files people shared with you to My Drive first, since shared drives don’t transfer. You can’t stop a transfer once it runs, and starting it again makes a second set of copies, so run it once.
Enter the new account, confirm the code, choose Gmail and Drive, then start.
What does the transfer service leave out?
The transfer copies a lot, but not everything. Knowing the gaps saves a surprise later.
What the transfer moves
- Copies. Gmail with its labels, the Drive files you own and Photos, all as copies, so the old account keeps the originals.
- Skips. Contacts, chats, tasks and the Trash don’t move. Bring contacts and calendar across with the step further down.
How do you import a downloaded Takeout MBOX into the new Gmail?
You import a downloaded Takeout MBOX into the new Gmail through Thunderbird. You add the new Gmail account there, load the MBOX, then copy the mail into it so Thunderbird uploads it over IMAP.
Here are the four steps.
- In Thunderbird, add your new Gmail account and sign in with Google.
- Add the ImportExportTools NG add-on, then Import the Takeout MBOX into Local Folders.
- Drag or copy the imported folder into the new Gmail account in the sidebar.
- Thunderbird uploads the mail to the new account, where it syncs to the web.
How do you bring contacts, calendar and photos across?
You bring the parts the transfer skips across by hand, straight into the new account. It takes a minute for each.
For contacts, open contacts.google.com on the new account, then Import the Takeout vCard. For the calendar, open Google Calendar, then Import the Takeout ICS. For photos, upload the Takeout photos to Google Photos on the new account, or use Google Photos partner sharing.
How do you import a Takeout to a new account in bulk?
You import a Takeout to a new account in bulk with a converter that uploads the MBOX to the new Gmail. It helps for many mailboxes, or when the transfer service is turned off.
PCDOTS Google Takeout Converter loads the Takeout MBOX and uploads it to Gmail over IMAP, keeping the folders and attachments, on Windows. For Gmail, sign in with an app password, since basic auth is off. The free trial exports a sample first. Follow these four steps.
- Install and run PCDOTS Google Takeout Converter, then Open your Takeout files.
- Preview the loaded mail and select the folders.
- Open Export and select Gmail.
- Enter the new Gmail and app password, then start the upload.
The tool route, a Takeout MBOX uploaded to the new Gmail.
Here are the first steps with the screens.
Step 1. Install and run PCDOTS Google Takeout Converter.
Step 2. Open and select your Google Takeout files.
Step 3. Open Export and select Gmail.
Related reading, our guides to import Google Takeout to Office 365 and export Gmail to Thunderbird. To read a Takeout file first, the free MBOX viewer opens it.
Gmail, Drive and Photos copy across, contacts and calendar come over on their own.
Which method should you use?
Use Google’s transfer for a full account move, the Thunderbird bridge for a Takeout you downloaded, and a tool for a big batch.
| Method | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Google transfer service | A full account move | Free, no download, Gmail and Drive |
| Thunderbird bridge | A downloaded Takeout | Free, uploads the MBOX over IMAP |
| Takeout Converter | A big batch | Windows, app password for Gmail |
Key takeaways
- Google’s transfer service copies Gmail and Drive to a new account with no download.
- Go to takeout.google.com/transfer, confirm the code, then choose Gmail and Drive.
- It skips contacts, chats, tasks and Trash, so import contacts and calendar by hand.
- For a Takeout you downloaded, upload the MBOX to the new Gmail through Thunderbird or a tool.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import Google Takeout to a new account without a download?
Yes. Google’s transfer service at takeout.google.com/transfer copies your Gmail and Drive straight to another Google account, so you skip the Takeout download altogether.
What does Google’s transfer copy?
Gmail with its labels, the Drive files you own and your Photos, all as copies. Contacts, chats, tasks and Trash are not included.
How long does the transfer take?
A few hours, but up to a week for a large account. Google emails you when it finishes, and files can appear in batches along the way.
How do I import a Takeout MBOX I already downloaded?
Add the new Gmail in Thunderbird, import the MBOX with ImportExportTools NG, then copy the folder into the Gmail account so it uploads over IMAP.
How do I move my contacts and calendar?
Import the Takeout vCard at contacts.google.com and the Takeout ICS in Google Calendar, both on the new account. The transfer service does not carry these.
Does the transfer delete anything from the old account?
No. The transfer copies your data, so the originals stay in the old account. You become the owner of the copies in the new one.
So how are you moving into the new account?
Moving into a new Google account is easiest with Google’s own transfer, which copies your Gmail and Drive across with no download. If you already have a Takeout, upload the MBOX into the new Gmail through Thunderbird or a tool, and import the contacts and calendar by hand. Remember the transfer skips contacts, chats and tasks. So how are you moving into the new account, a direct Google transfer, or a Takeout upload?
